Chapter 18 Unexpected Gaze\u00a0<\/p>\n
Z\u0f28 (46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his text thread with Marvin, a photo popped up after Marvin\u2019s last message-one Marvin had asked Scarlett for, using her return to Rivergate as an excuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marvin\u2019s next text followed, \u201cShe\u2019s divorced, has a daughter, but that\u2019s fine. I don\u2019t mind being a dad-I\u2019d treat the kid like my own.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan froze when he read \u201cdivorced\u201d. He typed back, his fingers trembling, \u201cDivorced? Are you sure?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPositive. She said it herself-why would she lie?\u201d Marvin replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s eyes stung. He sat there for a minute, unable to type a response. Finally, Marvin sent a video call request. Nolan answered, and Marvin\u2019s face filled the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m serious, man-what do you think of her?\u201d Marvin said. \u201cI\u2019m kinda into her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan let out a breath, feeling a strange mix of relief and nervousness. He tried to sound casual. \u201cMarvin, she\u2019s not right for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marvin frowned. \u201cWhy not? Spill it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan hesitated, then gave in. \u201cShe\u2019s the girl I told you about-my college junior. The one I had a crush on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marvin\u2019s eyes widened, then he grinned. \u201cOh, that one. Got it. Good luck, then-I\u2019ll back off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That night, Scarlett finished work to find Nolan waiting for her outside the hospital. They grabbed a quick dinner-Scarlett chose a light salad, Nolan ordered a steak\u2014and walked to the Rivergate Grand Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they handed over their tickets, the usher led them to the front row-the VIP seats, usually reserved for donors or celebrities. Scarlett raised an eyebrow, but Nolan just smiled. \u201cI pulled a few strings.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall filled up quickly, and the lights dimmed. A spotlight cut through the dark, and a woman in a floor-length white gown walked onto the stage, heading for the piano. She wore a sheer veil that obscured her face, but her graceful posture was unmistakable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s heart dropped. It was Sabrina. She\u2019d scrolled through Sabrina\u2019s social media enough to recognize her silhouette, her way of moving. Sabrina was beautiful-there was no denying that. She had the kind of presence that made everyone in the room stop and stare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet the most beautiful roses were always tucked away, hidden from sight-and this stunning bloom? It had always belonged to Vincent, and Vincent alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:30 Sat, Jan 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 18 Unexpected Gaze\u00a0<\/p>\n
46\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The music started. Sabrina played \u201cMemory of Rain\u201d first-a soft, melancholic piece that made the audience lean forward, captivated. She followed it with two more songs, each more emotional than the last. Scarlett found herself getting swept up in the music, even though she resented the woman playing it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the third song ended, the hall erupted in applause. From the second row, Vanessa\u2019s high- pitched voice cut through the noise, \u201cSabrina! You\u2019re amazing!\u201d She jumped up, waving her hands. Her voice was drowned out by the louder sounds; Scarlett didn\u2019t hear it, and Sabrina didn\u2019t hear it either.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent sat beside her, his eyes fixed on Sabrina. He looked calm, but there was a softness in his gaze Scarlett had never seen directed at her. He put an arm around Vanessa to steady her, then followed her gaze when she pointed toward the front row.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, is that Mom?\u201d Vanessa whispered, her voice tight with surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent looked over. Even in the dim light, he could see Scarlett sitting next to Nolan. They were leaning close, talking-Nolan said something, and Scarlett smiled, a small, genuine smile that made Vincent\u2019s chest ache. She\u2019d never smiled like that for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded, his voice quiet. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s Mom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cBut she\u2019s married to you! Why\u2019s she sitting so close to him? They look like they\u2019re gonna kiss!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent didn\u2019t know how to answer. He just patted her head. \u201cLet\u2019s watch the rest of the concert. Sabrina\u2019s got one more song.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa huffed, but she sat down, her eyes still glued to Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next to Scarlett, Nolan noticed she\u2019d gone quiet. He leaned in. \u201cYou okay? You look distracted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett forced a smile. \u201cI\u2019m fine. Just tired, I guess.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
5\u00a0<\/p>\n
212\u00a0<\/p>\n
15:30 Sat, Jan 3 \u2191\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 18 Chapter 18 Unexpected Gaze\u00a0 Z\u0f28 (46\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 In his text thread […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-impossible-condition-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27382\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}